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Congressman Dan Lipinski (IL-3) has announced that the National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded Lewis University in Romeoville a $613,428 grant for a project entitled “Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Connections.”

The project at Lewis University, under the direction of Dr. Jason Keleher and Dr. Joseph Kozminski, will contribute well-prepared graduates to the STEM workforce with advanced training in chemistry, biochemistry, physics, and chemical physics. It is designed to enhance physical sciences education through an experiential learning model based on real-world experiences. The students will be provided with a solid foundation for employment and graduate school in a competitive landscape. Specific emphasis will be placed on skills relevant to pressing issues such as alternative energy, novel materials for information storage, next generation health care materials, and advanced optical technology. The NSF award starts April 15th of this year.

“This award is terrific news for Lewis University, its students, and the region, and it is well-deserved,” Rep. Lipinski said. “In 2012, I attended the dedication of the impressive new Science Center at Lewis and discussed the university’s strong commitment to STEM education. This award will be a great help as Lewis advances its commitment to training students for careers in STEM fields. Not only will the students benefit, but our region will benefit as new and expanding companies are established by and around a skilled STEM workforce.”

During the project, Lewis University will leverage its relationships with nanotechnology companies, Argonne and Fermi National Laboratories, and the community to provide students with additional learning opportunities. It will also expand its research collaborations with the labs and both domestic and international companies working in these advanced fields.

In the House of Representatives, Congressman Lipinski serves on the Science, Space, and Technology committee. He is the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Research and Technology, and also sits on the Subcommittee on Energy. He has long supported investing in innovation and scientific research at universities, national labs, and other entities that support long-term economic growth and allow the United States to compete in the global marketplace and grow American jobs. When he was chairman of the Research Subcommittee, Lipinski wrote the bill reauthorizing the National Science Foundation (NSF).

As a former teacher and one of only a dozen engineers in Congress, Rep. Lipinski has pushed for improvements in STEM education throughout his career. He is a strong believer that improving STEM education at all levels is among the most important steps we can take to ensure that America remains the most technologically innovative country in the world and our children receive an education that will allow them to succeed in the jobs of today and tomorrow.

“Our world is much better today because of the investments the United States has made in basic science research,” Rep. Lipinski said. “These investments have resulted in historic breakthroughs in how we understand the world, and have led to advances in medicine and technology that have made possible new products that have created jobs and economic development. That’s why I am committed to keeping the country at the forefront of scientific research and leading the way in developing new technologies and creating new jobs.”